Get Your Squad Together and Volunteer at the 2023 Florida Mission of Mercy!

If you are not currently registered for DDOH, please go to bit.ly/3jW97Ew to join your colleagues at the FDA’s advocacy day!

A legislative briefing will take place on Monday, March. 27, at 6 p.m. at Hotel Duval with a complimentary buffet dinner to follow. If you plan on attending the briefing and dinner, please add both items during your registration. Lunch is provided for all attendees on Tuesday, March 28 and there is no registration fee to attend DDOH

If you have any questions, please contact Governmental Affairs Liaison Alexandra Abboud at 850.224.1089 or aabboud@floridadental.org

Go to bit.ly/3iyj4aP for highlights from the 2022 DDOH!

The 2023 Florida Mission of Mercy (FLA-MOM) is just weeks away! The 2023 FLA-MOM will take place Feb. 24-25 in West Palm Beach — register to volunteer at FLAMOM.org. With a goal of treating 2,000 patients, FLA-MOM seeks to have a positive impact by providing important access to dental care for patients in need. FLA-MOM has served more than 12,000 patients since 2014, and we need your help to make our next clinic a success. Register today at FLAMOM.org. We can’t wait to see YOU in West Palm Beach!Questions? Please email foundation@floridadental.org or call 800.877.9922.

Room Block Almost Full - Register for DDOH and Reserve Your Room Today!

Come for the CE and Stay for the Fun at FDC2023!

Florida Dental Convention (FDC) 2023 … it’s not your average dental meeting! Not only will you receive a world-class education from renowned dental speakers, but you will also have the opportunity to connect with your peers, make new connections and bond with your team. FDC2023 will continue to include free social events for you and your team, including the ever-popular Friday evening event. Go to bit.ly/2IxIi4M to find out the fun events waiting for you, June 29-July 1 in Orlando at FDC2023!

Make Your FDC2023 Hotel Reservation

Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center (Host Hotel)

Get the continuning education you need all while enjoying the Gaylord Palms Resort’s amenities including a 3-acre water park, luxury spa, adults-only pool and endless family fun. Reserve your room at the discounted rate of $212 per night, including free self-parking. Go to bit.ly/3QyLTAz or call 877.491.0442 to make your reservation at Gaylord Palms.

FREEDOM TO SMILE!

Rooms are filling up quickly for the Florida Dental Association’s (FDA) 2023 Dentists’ Day on the Hill (DDOH) taking place on Tuesday, March, 28. If you are currently registered for DDOH and have not yet reserved your room at Hotel Duval go to bit.ly/3X2ZnHp to reserve a room while they are still available!

Fairfield Inn & Suites Orlando Kissimmee/ Celebration (One Mile from Gaylord Palms)

Conveniently located one mile from Gaylord Palms, the Fairfield Inn & Suites offers attendees complimentary breakfast and parking for the discounted rate of $124 per night. Go to bit. ly/3W1Derq or call 407.390.1532 to make your reservation at Fairfield Inn & Suites.

Dental Spending Increased by 11% in 2021

As more people returned to the dentist after pausing at the height of the pandemic and governmental financial relief was awarded to health care providers, dental spending in 2021 was greater than in years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching $162 billion, up from $146 billion in 2020, ADA News reported. ADA Health Policy Institute Chief Economist and Vice President Marko Vujicic, Ph.D., said public spending on dental care treatment grew especially quickly, reaching 15% in a trend that was already underway before the pandemic. “Looking ahead, this time next year, we expect more modest growth,” Dr. Vujicic said. To read the full story go to bit.ly/3X5T85e

New Toys Equal Free Cleanings for Needy Kids

In 1996, Dr. Donald Lackey started a toy drive program in his dental office to provide toys to needy children in his community. In place of paying the prophylaxis fee, if a patient would bring in a brand new, unwrapped toy, the cleaning would be free. Dr. Lackey’s office works with the Venice Police Department, who goes through the Sarasota County schools to find underprivileged children who may otherwise go without toys on Christmas Day. The toy drive program usually starts the Monday after Thanksgiving and lasts two or three weeks. The police department gives Dr. Lackey’s office a deadline, so they have time to come by and pick up the toys and distribute them before the holidays. Over the years, the amount of Dr. Lackey’s prophylaxis has increased, so the dollar amount they ask the patients to spend on toys correspondingly increases. The cost of their cleaning is currently $110, and they ask patients to bring in $75 in new toys. Dr. Lackey’s office gives them a $35 discount as an incentive to go out and shop. Over the years, this has grown where patients specifically ask to book this time of year to participate, and many of them give more than the required amount. Some patients come by and donate toys, or money to buy more toys, because they want to participate, despite not having a cleaning within the time frame. The office typically sees 160 hygiene patients in a given week, and to date, 188 patients have participated in the toy drive. This amounts to more than $20,000 Dr. Lackey has donated in services and well over $14,000 in toys. Needless to say, a lot of kids are very happy on Christmas morning! Dr. Lackey’s office would like to challenge other dentists throughout Florida to do something similar, so this act of kindness will continue to grow and spread to help even more communities.

Welcome New FDA Members

The following dentists recently joined the FDA. Their memberships allow them to develop a strong network of fellow professionals who understand the day-to-day triumphs and tribulations of practicing dentistry.

Atlantic Coast District Dental Association

Dr. Liveisys Pedraza, Miami

Dr. Tatyana Prosolupova, Jupiter

Central Florida District Dental Association

Dr. Saleh Alhindi, Gainesville

Dr. Priya Sabharwal, Saint Cloud

Dr. Giau Tran, Saint Louis, MO

Northwest District Dental Association

Dr. John Ledford, Pensacola

Dr. Shane Turgeon, Niceville

South Florida District Dental Association

Dr. Darek Dul, Miami

Dr. Simona Zigmond, Hallandale Beach

West Coast Dental Association

Dr. Peter Bliss, Naples

Dr. Liusvanis Hernandez, Fort Myers

Dr. Dana Lambeth-Greer, Wesley Chapel

Dr. Mark Messer, Estero